THREE generations of a Midlands family are set to follow in the tracks of Hollywood star Ewan McGregor as they ride motorbikes to the Sahara.

THREE generations of a Midlands family are set to follow in the tracks of Hollywood star Ewan McGregor as they ride motorbikes to the Sahara.

Grandfather John Morris, aged 75, son Stephen Morris, aged 49, and grandson Henry Morris, aged 15, will ride together from their home in Bromsgrove to Tan Tan, in Morocco, in what they are calling their 'half way down' trip.

In May last year Scotsman McGregor and his friend Charley Boorman travelled 15,000 miles from John O'Groats to Cape Town on their motorbikes for the BBC series Long Way Down.

Now the Morris trio, who all work at the Grafton Manor Hotel in Bromsgrove, will try to emulate their heroes in a 3,000-mile trip over 17 days.

Henry, who works in the kitchens at the hotel and has not yet passed his motorcycle compulsory basic training, will be riding on the back of his dad's BMW. Together the Morris men will take on the relentless heat of Spain, the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and the treacherous dusty tracks of the Sahara Desert. Stephen, who is more used to wedding receptions at the hotel than the wild roads of North Africa, said: "We aim to cover about 450 miles per day.

"It's going to be hard work manoeuvring the bikes, especially in the 30C heat in our leathers and with no support vehicles if we get in trouble.

"I was up for camping out under the stars, but I was out-voted by my son and dad on that one so we are staying in hotels instead."

The Morrises set off on October 19 via motorways to Portsmouth, ferry to Santander, in northern Spain, then riding down the Iberian Peninsula to catch another ferry across to North Africa.

They hope to raise £21,000 in sponsorship money for the Primrose Hospice in Bromsgrove.